NEWS ARCHIVE

Fire at Cecil County church ruled arson

Parishioners heartbroken over loss

Parishioners of a United Methodist Church in Cecil County will have to find a new place to worship. Fire officials said someone intentionally set the Baldwin United Methodist Church in Elk Mills on fire overnight.

Parishioners of a United Methodist Church in Cecil County will have to find a new place to worship.

Fire officials said someone intentionally set the Baldwin United Methodist Church, in Elk Mills, on fire overnight.

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Karen Sheldon grew up in the church.

"Everyone that comes to our church, they can feel the warmth of the people. We're tiny, but we're mighty," Sheldon said.

All 50 of its members probably helped make Tina and Tony Cordill's wedding day there unforgettable.

"I would sit on my front porch, and I would see all the brides come through out the front doors, and I said to myself, 'I would love to be able to do that one day,' come out the front doors in my wedding gown" Tina Cordill said.

For 30 years, mission director Pat Bernale has helped feed about 80 people a month there.

"We've poured blood, sweat and tears into this place and, you know, as we raise monies, we improve God's house," Bernale said.

But on Sunday morning, the church went up in flames, and by Monday morning, the Maryland State fire marshals' office determined its arson, that someone set the fire inside the church.

"It's devastating. You could have knocked us over with a feather this morning to know that someone would do that," Tiny Cordill said.

The church has stood on the small lot since the 1800s and was rebuilt in 1967 to update the building. Members are determined to rebuild again.

WBAL-TV 11 News learned firefighters worked really hard to save the large wooden cross at the front of the church. Members are praying it also survives a reconstruction.

"I just came from my mom and dad's, and I said, 'You know, what if by some chance we couldn't rebuild? What would that mean?' And my mom started to cry, and she said, 'Well, we've got to have a church. We have to have a church,'" Berndale said. "It's just a part of who we are here."

There is no word on who committed the arson and the motive. Authorities are asking the public's help to solve the case.

A church leader set up the following account for people who wish to donate: